Straight beam clamp with adjustable self-locking jaw



F. P. HOPFELD 2,656,864

-I .OCKING JAW Oct. 27, 1953 STRAIGHT BEAM CLAMP WITH ADJUSTABLE SELF Filed April 21, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l Q0 7 y 6W a y 0 J] Oct. 27, 1953 F. P. HOPFELD STRAIGHT BEAM CLAMP WITH ADJUSTABLE SELF-LOCKING JAW Filed April 21 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct".- 27, 1953 STRAIGHT BEAM CLAMP WITH ADJ UST- ABLE SELF-LOCKIN G JAW Fred P. Hopfeld, Elmwoo Grand Specialties Co corporation of Illinois Application April 21, 1949, Serial N 0. 88,809

2 Claims. (Cl. 144--303) This invention relates to clamps and more particularly to clamps of the character wherein both jaws thereof are adjustable toward and away from each other.

Clamps wherein both jaws thereof are adjustable toward and away from each other are, per se, relatively old in the art. However, it is a primary object of my invention to afford a clamp wherein the jaws thereof may be adjusted'relative to each other in a novel and expeditious manner.

It is another object of my invention to construct a clamp which includes a jaw embodying a novel quick release device for securely holding the jaw in position when a work piece is clamp ingly engaged thereby and which quick release device may be quickly and easily released from holding position when it is desired to move or adjust the position of the slidable jaw.

A further object of my invention is to provide a clamp wherein the individual parts thereof may be readily constructed by relatively simple operations and may then be assembled together in a novel and expeditious manner.

Yet another object of my invention is to provide a clamp of the aforesaid character which may be readily and economically manufactured commercially in a novel and practical manner.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description and claims and are illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferred embodiments and the principles thereof and what I now consider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a clamp embodying the principles of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail view of a portion of the clamp shown in Fig. 1, showing certain parts as they appear at one stage of the assembling of the clamp;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. '1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Fig. 1;

bodiment of my end portion of the feed screw (1 Park, 111., assignor to mpany, Chicago, 111., a

Fig. 6 is an elevational view of a part of the clamp shown in Fig. 1, but showing the parts thereof in a different operational position;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 7 showing a part of the clamp in a different 0perational position;

Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 in Fig. 7; and

Fig. 10 is a detail sectional view taken substantially along the line |0l0 in Fig. 7.

The clamp 20, shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive of the drawings to illustrate toa preferred eminvention, comprises an elongated body member 22 on which are movably mounted two slides 24 and 26 comprising the clamping elements of my device.

The body member 22 may be constructed in any suitable shape and form but I prefer to construct it of a steel or iron pipe member having a circular-shaped cross section and having threads 28 formed on one end thereof. A collar member 30 having internal threads formed therein is mounted on the aforesaid end of the body member 212 and is held thereon by engagement with the threads 28.

A nut 32 comprising two internally threaded members 34 and 35 is attached to one side of the collar member 30 by welding 31, the members 34 and 35 being welded together along a line 38 to form the nut 32.

The slide member 26 comprises a substantially rectangular shaped plate having an opening 40 formed therein which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the body member 22.

A feed screw 42 extends through and is operatively engaged with the nut 32. A crank 44, having a handle 46 thereon, is mounted on one 42 to afford means for turning the feed screw and thereby cause the feed screw 42 to be moved longitudinally through the nut 32.

The other end of the feed screw 42 is connected to the slide member 26 by a ball and socket joint, the ball 48 being provided on this latter end of the screw 42, and the socket being provided by a boss 49 formed on the slide member 26 and having an opening 50 formed therem.

In the construction and assembly of my novel device, the side walls of the boss 49 and of the opening 50 are originally formed substantially straight, as best seen in Fig. 2, and with these side walls in this position the ball 48 is inserted into the opening 50. Thereafter the outer end portions 52 of the boss 49 are turned inwardly over the outer surface of the ball 49 to thereby retain the ball 48 in the socket afforded by the boss 49. This inward turning of the outer end portions 52 of the boss 49 may be effected in any one of several ways heretofore known to those skilled in the art, such as, for example, by peening these portions inwardly or by pressing these portions inwardly by the dies.

The end portion of the slide 26 on which the boss 49 is formed affords a jaw 54 which is pos itioned opposite a corresponding jaw 56 embodied in the slide 24. The two jaws 54 and 56comprise the work-engaging members between which work pieces are held in the ioperatiqn of clamp 20.

The jaw member 56 of the slide 24 is supported on the body member 22 by a substantially U- shaped hang-er 50 which comprises two substantially parallel arms 62 and 63 connected together at one end by a cross bar or gripping member 65 connected therebetween by suitable means such as a rivet 69, Fig. 3.

As is best seen in Figs. 1 and 3, the jaw member 56 is substantially T-shaped having a web portion 12 and a cross bar 13, the cross bar portion 13 being formed on that end of the jaw member 56 which faces the jaw member 54 and thereby aiiords the work-engaging portion or the jaw 56'.

The ends of the arms 62 and Y63, comprising the open end portion of the hanger member 60, are pivotally connected .to the web 12 of the jaw 56 by suitable means such as a rivet 15.

An opening :lT-is formed in the web portion '12 of the jaw 56 on the opposite side of the arms .62 and 63 from the slide 215, and a Suitable spring member, such as a coil spring 80 havin 11 wardly extending ears 8i and 82 iormcd there on, is mounted in the opening '1 wit t e a s 81 and 82 en aged with the adja ent d e p.01".- .tions of the arms 62 and iii re pe ively, so that the spring :82 urges the ha r memb r 59 t pivot .on the rivet l in a clockwi e :d riQ tiqIb viewed in Fig. 1, and thereby u es th gripping m mber 65 into en a ement w th t b d-y me ber 32. Thus, when the sl de :24 s n nonna position on h body-m mb r '2, the 5.2 a d viii are pos tioned a an o ique angle to the longitudinal axis of the body member 3; with the eri pins member 55 po it nssi ose is the iaw 54 han i the ri t 3.5 and th s r ng ii!) is as ent s to ho d the iawif as nst body member 2:? t r b v slsi s .51 b twe n er i5 and th e d, enises 84 9f the jaw 5,-ihsims tm diat mr B? f th skis 9 th w 55. tween t end portions 84 and 85, being cut away as is b s een i :F snd Wi this ns mc en when a ip ss is ap lie to the jaw 56 in a direction away irom jaw 54 uch a or exam l wh n a ork m s is sli 'p n ly n d etwe he a 54 and 56 h s pin and85 of one s i m mber enga ement with the bOdY mfimber 22, resists u i m ap lie t h l w s a res l herce a p ie 9 m? 33 .5 by 38w 5 tends to move the jaw 56 relative to the gripins m mb r 55 and ther by t e arm 62 and 63 to pivot in a clockwise direction on the rivet 15, as viewed in 1, to thereby press the gripping member 65 into even tighter gripping engagement with the body member 22' and hold the slide 24 in stationary position on the use of suitably shaped 65, t u h i ct ona a on he m mbe body member 22. Thus it will be seen that the slide 24 affords a clamping element which is substantially self-actuated in gripping the body member 22 when a force is applied in a clamping direction on the jaw 56.

The gripping member 65 may be constructed :of any suitable material, such ior example, wrought iron, and, to afford relatively good frictional characteristics between the gripping member 65 and the body member 22, the inner face of the gripping member 65, which is complementary to the outer surface of the body member 22, may have transversally extending grooves 8-8 formed therein as is best seen in Figs. 1 and 6.

1n the operation of a clamp such as the clamp 20 shown-in the accompanying drawings, it is of desirable to make the rough adjustments of the positions of jaws 54 and 56 relative to each other by moving the jaw 56. Such adjustments may be quickly and easily made with my novel clamp. Thus, for example, it will be seen "that if it is desired to move the slide 24 away from the slide '26, this may be readily accomplished by pressing on the cross bar 65 in a direction away from theslide :25. The force thus appl ed to the crossbar .651is sfiect ve to swing th arms 52 a d 53 in a untc rci kwis di ction, as viewe n F a ainst th ur i g o t e sp in to thereby raise the grippi m mb r 55 o t of n agemen with th r od mem er 2-2 to p rmit the slide 24 to be moved away from the slide 25 a s own i .F s- 6- .I on th oth r ha d, it s desired to mo he sl e 24 ow t e l d .his ma be d ly accom lis ed b r ssin in a direction to a the s de ;2 th orts thus a ied'i t d t o 9 he i 55 in sfi sst e t al t rn he a ms 2 and 3 in a co n er-clock is d re t on a viewed n i. is there y el a e he g ippin membe i om en a ement wi h th b y m mb -32- om t e iors i e it ill be s e that .1 ave s e dss a .ns s slams wh in en aw ther is friciionsll hsisi in a prede e mined po i on on he body m m er o th mp h n t c m s being d o h ld s ed; p ce b hich aw em od es no el and ea y Qr aisd mechan m which may be qu k y and easil estuat d to he eby e ease i Ja i r s i i mo we t a ong the, body member w en it i desired t dj st he PQ itiQIi o t e saw.-

Fu th rmo e; it wil be a I ha e proid s a no el clamp her in t i us pa t the eof com i s fus u s members which m y be rea ily const uc d a d which may be qui kly and easily assembled in a novel and expeditious an e 1. the ma ufa ure f my nov l clamo- Modified form of clamp shown in Figs. '7 to 10, inclusive Figs 7 t in inclusive. is s ow a odified form of my invention. Many of the parts embodied in the modified form of my invention are im lar is thepari shown in Fi s 1 to 6 inc sivs, nge s in icated b tbs-same reference nume al wi h the suff x a? added t e e is l mp .9 lik th clam 1 com ri e a bo m mh r l2! and t o sli e 4 andlflizfi mounted thereon. A- feed screw 42a having. a crank 44a is operatively mounted in a nut'132a suspended from one end portion of the body member 22a and operable to move the slide I26 toward and awayfrom the slider.

The body member I22, as best seen in Figs: 7 and 9, comprises a substantially flat rectangular shaped bar of suitable material, such as, wrought iron, and has a series of spaced grooves or indentations I 23 formed in one edge portion I25 thereof. I

The slide I24 comprises two side plates I 62 and I63 mounted on opposite sides of the body member I22. The side plates I62 and I63 are connected together at one end portion by a crossbar I65 which is suitably attached thereto such as by welding I66 and is adapted to rest on the edge I25 of the body member I22. The side plates I62 and I63 are connected together at the other end by a cross plate I84 which is likewise attached thereto by welding I18.

The cross rod I65 is adapted to engage the edge I25 of the body member I22 and is complementary in shape to the indentations I23 formed therein. The crossbar I84 is adapted to engage the edge of the body memberI22 opposite the edge I25, asis best seen in Fig. 7.

A substantially rectangular shaped plate member I13 is connected to the side plates I62 and I63 and the cross rod I 65 by the welding I66. The plate member I 13 has a slot I14 formed therein, Fig. 9, and is mounted on the body member I22 with the body slot I 14.

A substantially cylindrical-shaped opening 35 is formed in the cross member I13 adjacent to and in alignment with, the slot I14, and a pin 303 having a head 304- on one end thereof is mounted in the opening 30I for reciprocation therein. A coil spring 306 is mounted in the opening 30I around the pin 363 and urges the pin 303 inwardly against the edge I21 of the body member I22, to thereby urge the slide I24 to rotate in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, around the cross rod I 65 and thereby yieldingly maintain the cross rod I65 and the cross member I13 in engagement with the edges I 25 and I21 of the body member I22, respectively.

The slide I26, like the slide I24, includes a cross member 308 having a slot 3 I formed therein and is mounted on the body member I22 with the body member engaged in the slot 3I0, Figs. 7 and 10. A crossbar 3I2 is attached to the cross member 308 by welding 3I4 and extends across the open end of the slot I30. The crossbar 3I2 is adapted to engage the edge I25 of the body member 220. to thereby support the slide I26 therefrom and maintain the inner end portion of the slot 3I0 in engagement with the edge I 21 of the body member I 22.

The cross members I13 and 308 of the slides I24 and I26 afford jaws 56a and 54a, respectively, which comprise the clamping elements of the clamp 20a.

In the operation of the clamp 20a the slide I 24 is first adjusted to the desired position on the body member 22a. This is accomplished by tilting the slide I 24 in counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, about the cross plate I84 and against the urging of the spring 306 to thereby raise the cross rod I65 out of engagement with the body member I22. The slide I24 may then be moved along the body member I22 to the desired position wherein the cross rod I65 is in alignment with a corresponding indentation I23, and the slide I24 may then be released to permit the spring 306 to rotate the slide in clockwise direction about the cross member I84 and move the cross rod I65 into engagement wtih the aforesaid corresponding indentation I23. It will be seen that the engagement of the cross rod I65 in the indentations I23 tends to member I22 disposed in the restrain the slide I24 from movement longituidinally along the body member I22.

Y When a work piece is being clamped between jaws 56a and 54a, a considerable force is applied to the jaw 56a in a direction away from the jaw 54a. When such force is applied to jaw 56a, the engagement of the rod I65 in the indentations I23 tends to restrain the slide I24 from moving away from the slide I26 and, therefore, the slide I24 tends to rotate around the cross: rod I65 in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 7, to thereby firmly grip the body member I22 between the cross member I84 and the cross rod I65. Thus, it will be seen that upon application of a clamping force between the jaws 56a and 54a the slide I24 is firmly and positively held in position on the body member I22.

However, when it is desired to adjust the position of the slide I24 on the body member I22, this may be easily accomplished by first releasing the pressure of the jaw 54a on the jaw 56a; then raising the cross rod I 65 out of engagement with the indentations I23, as previously discussed; and then moving the slide I24 along the body member 22a to the desired position.

If desired, a suitable abutment, such as, for example, a pin 3I6 may be mounted on the body member I22 at the end opposite the nut 32a to thereby prevent the slide I24 from being accidentally dislodged from the body member 220 when the clamp 20a is being stored or trans ported.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a novel clamp of the aforementioned character wherein the jaws thereof may be quickly and easily adjusted relative to each other in a novel and expeditious manner and wherein the jaws are firmly and positively held in position when the clamp is being used to hold a work piece.

Hence, while I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that these are capable of variation and modification and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set forth, but

desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A clamp comprising a tubular-shaped body member having a collar member screwed onto one end thereof, two clamping elements mounted on said body member and movable longitudinally thereof toward and away from each other, one of said clamping elements comprising an elongated jaw member having an opening formed therein, said jaw member being mounted on said body member with a portion thereof projecting from one side of said body member and with said body member disposed in said opening, the other of said clamping elements comprising another elongated member havin one end engaged with said one side of said body member, an elongated web member having one end welded to the central portion of said other elongated member and projecting transversely thereto and longitudinally along said body member in a direction away from said jaw member, said web member having a recess in the edge thereof that is next to said body member and extending from the said one end thereof rearwardly to provide an abutment portion formed on the end thereof opposite said one end and engaged with said one side of said body member, two elongated arms pivotally connected at one end to said web member between '7 abutment portion and said other elongated member, said two arms being disposed on opposite sides'of said body member, a gripping cross member pivotaliy mounted between the other ends of said arms, and a coil spring mounted in said web member'and having end portions projeoting therefrom into engagement with side por- 'itions'of said arms, said spring urging said arms to pivot on said web member toward said jaw member-and thereby urging said gripping cross member into engagement with the side of said body member opposite said one side to thereby yieldingly grip said body member between said cross bar and said other elongated member and said abutment member, and means including a feed screw mounted in said collar member and connected to said jaw member for moving said jawimember toward and away from said other elongated member.

2. A clamping device comprising an elongated tubular body member, two clamping elements mounted on said body member and movable therealong toward and away from each other, one of said'clamping elements comprising a jaw member bodily movable into and out of engagement with one sideof the body member, said jaw member having a recess in the side thereof next to the said one side of the member whereby there are afiorded two abutments at either end of the recess, said abutments being spaced from each other longitudinally of said body member to thereby be engageabie with said body member at corresponding spaced apart points, an elongated hanger member comprising a pair of arms strad dling'said body member with one end portion of each arm 'pivotally connected to said jaw member between the said two abutmen'ts, the other end portion of each arm extending over the side of said body member opposite the saidone side thereof, a gripping cross member mounted between said other end portions of saidarms to en a e said opposite side of the body member, and a coil spring mounted in said jaw member with opposite ends thereof engaging said arms just above the pivot therefor to cause the hang r to pivot on said jaw member toward the other 01 said clampin elements to thereby yieldin ly hold said abutment members and said gripping cross member in engagement with the respective sides of said body membensaid gripping cross member, when so engaged with said body member, being positioned closer thansai-d one end portion of said hanger member to said other clamping eternent to thereby permit either the jaw member or the gripping orossmember to be yieldinglydisengaged fromsaid tubular body member to allow said one clamping element to be moved bodily along the tubuiarmember in one direction or the other, and means mounted on said body member fornmoving said other clamping element toward and awayfrom said one clamping element.

FRED P. HOPFELD.

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